Access

Takaka Hill Walkway is signposted to the left at the top of the Takaka Hill, 15km from the start of the ascent on the Riuwaka side. There’s a large parking bay just before the sign marking the Takaka Hill Summit.

Track

The track is well marked and the surface is a mixture of gravel, 4WD tracks and solid foot tracks. Beware of sink holes. These can be covered by vegetation, so keep to the marked track. The track crosses open farmland, scrubland and beech forest.

Follow the 4WD track, making sure to look in the abandoned farm shack (5 minutes from the start on the other side of the fence to the right). Continue along the 4WD, heading right at the junction and head for the TV antenna. These are your best views.

The track become single file from here, undulating through beech forest, before arriving at the road again.

Geology

This is limestone country. The rock was formed around 25 million years ago during the Oligocene. Warmer temperatures provided conditions for reefs, which later metamorphosed to highly crystalline limestone and marble. Later erosion from chemicals leached by the vegetation gives the grey rock a wave-like, convoluted form. These landscapes are characteristic of the Takaka Hill, the Arthur Range and Mt Owen. They are known as karst.

Flora

This is a mycologists dream in winter. All colours, forms and varieties.

Fauna

A native land snail, powelliphanta slides over the calcium rich forest floor. These giants of the snail-world are fully protected and it is illegal to remove either the snails, or their shells.

European History

We would have kept schtum about the mummified cow in the farm shed, but a 2018 article by New Zealand’s main news network let the secret out of the bag. Until the article, only locals knew about this macabre sight. It’s not for the squeamish.